Suddenly Everything Was Different

Ann McGlashan is associate professor of German at Baylor University. Dwight D. Allman is associate professor of Political Science at Baylor University.

A unique historical and literary document of lives dislocated by the collapse of East Germany.

Introduction - Dwight AllmanTranslator's Preface - Ann McGlashanAuthor's Preface - Olaf Georg Klein"I think it comes from keeping everything bottled up inside and never opening your mouth..." Klara D., 38, artist, emigrated to the West in 1984"So much of the really good life was lost to us..." Petra B., 41, case worker for exit permits"You should know I won't be blackmailed..." Protestant country pastor, born 1925"They even accuse me of having planned murders..." Major Glewe, 45, retired State Security officer"I never cared much for work just for the sake of work..." Hartmut L., 43, conscientious objector, social worker, insurance agent agent"And that's why you'd rather give in first..." Bärbel C., 28, daycare worker, wife of a former border guard"So what's changed? Patriarchy hasn't disappeared..." Beate G., 45, institute employee and sculptor in metal"I always hope I won't wake up in the morning..." Rudi K., 39, former "unofficial co-worker" of the Secret Police, now right-wing radical right-wing radical"Somehow or other I want to make up for the mistakes I made back then..." Peter D., 41, journalist, member of the SED, escaped to the West, returned in 1990, founder of a newspaper returned in 1990, founder of a newspaper"So how are people ever going to connect with each other?" Günter C., 56, laborer, unemployed and in debt"You have to keep your mouth shut and do your job as if it's the most fulfilling thing in your life..." Peter B., 18, school student in the East, trainee in the West"You can best change the world by changing yourself..." Lars N., 40, pastor, philosopher, party founderAnnotationsWorks Consulted & CitedIndex